jozefvanwissem
Lute player Jozef Van Wissem is renowned for his unusual approach of the Renaissance lute. He cuts and pastes classical pieces, reverses melodies, adds electronics and processed field recordings. The unusual wedlock of composition and improvisation creates an unheard amalgam of contemporary folk and late Renaissance music.
Van Wissem probably plays the most unlikely instruments in the world of contemporary improvised music: the Renaissance and Baroque lute and has accomplished the strange feat of bridging the idiom of seventeenth century lute literature and twenty-first century free improv of the silent type. Although he uses subtle electronic sound manipulation, he has largely stayed faithful to the particular timbre, resonance and playing technique.
Van Wissem first came to be noticed a few years ago because of his radical conceptual approach to Renaissance lute music: he deconstructed existing compositions, for instance by playing them backwards. He also composed his own pieces for lute, using palindromes and mirrored structures. His music therefore does not have a traditional linear progression, nor leads to a climax, it rather stays on the same level of intensity.
His music is quiet and not so much demands concentrated listening, as it will bring the listener in a state of concentrated listening – an aspect that makes Van Wissem a natural ally of the current post-reductionist improvising musicians. He also runs the Incunabulum label, and performs regularly around the world in duo with Captain Beefheart-fame/Gary Lucas and Tetuzi Akiyama. He also works with M.B. / Maurizio Bianchi, James Blackshaw, Chris Forsyth and Elliot Sharp.
-- press 2008
From the tracks on Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear I really liked Stichomythy which has more rhythmical progressions and a slight Eastern vibe to it with pentatonic bells and the constant offbeat, crossover contemporary lute! Listening to Lost in Transit with headphones on I noticed the frequent panning of the airport recording, this was a little disorienting and distorted my perception of what the recording was.
Stations Of The Cross is a lovely thing to experience and have to turn back to if I require something very light and but also containing substance, another juxtaposition, a subtle selection of songs but when you investigate further, go deeper, you ll find it to be very fulfilling and revelatory.
-- stewart hill (reviews)
Early Show (starts 9 pm) at belleville-store.de, rosa luxemburg str/ berlin.
jozef at belleville /foto: pe
